Spray nozzle



H. H OPP ER SPRAY NOZZLE Nov. 3, 1953 Filed Sept. 7, 1950 54 v Zhmemor Ham/d Hopper (Ittornega Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE SPRAY NOZZLE Harold Hopper, Denver, Colo.

Application September 7, 1950, Serial No. 183,621

1 Clam. 1

My invention relates in general to nozzles used for spraying liquid under pressure, and particularly to the swirl-producing member of a nozzle of this type.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a spray nozzle having a swirl member so designed that the nozzle may be used over` long periods of time without becoming inoperative by reason of corrosion or the accumulation of foreign matter.

A further object is to provide a nozzle having a swirl member` which is free to float and to move axially with respect to the nozzle body when no pressure is applied to the nozzle, but which shall be sealed against said body and prevented from rotating therewith under conditions of high nozzle pressure.

Another object is to provide a swirl member formed at its forward end with an annular swirl recess which is in communication with the helically arranged passageways formed in the head of the member, whereby annular spaces are provided in the recess between the passageways for the accumulation of foreign matter.

A further object is to provide a device of this nature so designed that a stop is provided for the rearward movement of the swirl member.

Moreover, weight of the swirl member and the pitch of the helically arranged fluid passageways formed therein are so proportioned that the developed torque imposed thereon by the fiuid passing through the member will counteract the tendency of the fluid under pressure to impell the swirl in a circular direction.

Furthermore, my device is so designed that it may be used to spray abrasive materials.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by a device shown in the accompanying drawing of Which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the swirl member valve of my device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a modified type of swirl member;

Fig. 4 a face view of the swirl member of Fig. 3.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, my invention comprises a nozzle body IO which, for purposes of illustration, is shown screwthreaded to the end H of a nozzle elbow l2, but which will be screwthreaded directly to the fluid conduit in a straight nozzle construction (not shown). p

The nozzle body III is formed forwardly of the interior screwthreads With a bore I I which terminates short of the end of the body, whereby a fiat nozzle disc l5 is provided. The spray orifice 16 is formed in the disc 15 and is located centrally of the bore I 4. Slidably mounted within the bore l 4 is the swirl-producing member 20 of my invention. This member comprises a head 2| of such diameter -as to freely fioat axially within the bore ll of the body, the clearance between the head and the bore being such that the device will function properly over long periods of time without attention even in conditions where corrosion may occur due to the use of hard water. The head is of such length that it can not move out of alignment to such a degree as to cause it to bind within the bore of the nozzle. Extending rearwardly from the head is a stem 22 which is preferably of such length as to project slightly beyond the end of the nozzle body, whereby the member may be grasped by the fingers when removing it from the body.

The forward end of the head is provided with a cylindrical flange 24 extending forward from the front end of the head, thereby forming a swirl chamber or cup 23. Under normal working conditions, the flange 24 of the member head will be non-rotatably pressed against the nozzle disc |5 in sealing contact therewith by means of the pressure of the fluid. Formed in the periphery of the head is a plurality of helically disposed grooves 25 each of which extends from the rear end of the head and opens into the swirl chamber at the forward end thereof. These grooves are preferably of such depth that they will extend through and inwardly beyond inner periphery of the fiange 24.

As shown in Fig. 1, the supply aperture 26 formed in the forward end of the nozzle elbow is smaller than the diameter of the plunger head,

-whereby the end surface of the elbow will form a stop for the rearward movement of the swirl member.

Referring now to the form of invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the swirl member 30 is formed with a relatively narrow peripheral fiange 3! adjacent to which is a reduced portion 33. The stem 34 in this form is carried by the reduced portion 33. The flange is extended forwardly beyond the end of the reduced portion, thereby forming a swirl chamber 32. The reduced portion 33 of the head is preferably of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the swirl chamber, and in this form of invention, the fluid carrying passageways are formed by two or more apertures 35. These apertures are drilled partly into the reduced portion 33 and enter the swirl chamber at positions within the inside diameter of the flange 3l. These apertures are spirally arranged so as to project the fluid under pressure into the swirl chamber in a tangential manner.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that as the fiuid under presure is caused to swirl in the chamber or cup 23 having its apex at the bottom of and in the center of the cup. The annular' spaoes within the cupl between tha grooves at thev corner 35 where tlie-inner-sur'- face of the flange 3l meets and joins the end face of the head will therefore, not be under normal pressure and will provide substantialhe quiescent areas where foreign matter which has reached the nozzle will be collected, thus avoid'-` ing clogging of the orlfice.. IG., Eurthermoll.i since the swirl member is movabl axi'ally when no pressure exists in the nozzle, any: matter which has accumulated in the nozzle bodyV or in the` fluid) passageways: will hemme. dislodged by4 suchl axisill movemena. Moreoven. since the: swirl memberl is permittedi to rotate4 initially only as: ity is. being movedl toward: and on. to itseseat, such; rotativermovement will cause the-face surfaceto-theflange 24 to-be'; eflectively; seatedi against theadjacent face.- of)H the nozzle f disc 4 I 5? thereby;4 sealingv the; headiand.r causing allv of, the :fluid underf-presaurefto: befinn-1 jected through Lthe: passageways.V

While: I; haveshownbut-ztwo. forms:` of; inz= vention. 1' do ntt-wish to beflimitechtoftheem-Y bodiment herein shownf and described,v butnre-v serve the rights to make, detailed:changes.l within thelscopefof the lappenrled=-claim.

What I claim'is:

A spray` nozzle' comprislng; afbrldtt having a: cylindrical chamber: opened` at: ome-v end: for: cone-J neotion to a; source of supply: andhaving af. flat.

end wall at the opposite end formed withjazcener tral. spray orifice,. and a: cylindrical, swirl-proi ducing member movable axially within the chamber and itself having at the orifice end thereof an upstanding annular wall defining a cup the rim of which bears upon the end wall in sealing contact therewith. the bottom of the cup being substantially parallel to the Opposing end wall surface and defining therewith and With the annular wall relatively shallow circular swirl chamber, the periphery of the cylindrical'memher thing formedlwith pliiral spirallgraoves each oi a; depth substantially' equal to that' of the thickness of the annular wall to aiford an opening through at the annular wall into the swirl chamber of major capacity, such major openings being in the form of lateral slanting slots ibrminiiniethe rotative urge of the fluid passingqtherethmughasaid cylindrical member having a Body of substantially greater extent than thv-.dpt'h` of the swirl chamber, and said spiral grooves having a pitchdnsufllcient to create a rotative. urge.: upon: the4 member' of! a degree canahle: of; overcoming the: inertia. off the body and; the;I frictinn; im the. contact between. the an'- nular wall and said end wall, whereby4 the members will remain'f. quiescent toaugment' the swirl ofathazfluidimthe'swirl chamber:

HOPPER'.

Bolerences.. Gited: inn. thea file ofi this: patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date-v 1` ,166,340T llrickson. 7 Dec. 28, 19 1545351612 Murphyl et.ai..- Apr; 2451923 l,58D,24B. Heller0 Apr. 13, 1926 1.6.70g83L 'I'11rlav,et..al.. .May-22,- 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Nnnber Country, Date.

347,'985* France .J`an. 24, 1905, 4611567 Fl'ahce July 30, 1909. 

